A typical Japanese garden contains several of the following elements, they can be real or just symbolic:
Water, an island, possibly a bridge to an island, a teahouse or kind of pavillion and a lantern usually made of stone- you will notice on the lantern picturs that I have posted that it has a a large ‘roof’- this is designed to catch and hold a ‘cap’ of snow. Stunningly beautiful as I am sure that you can imagine!
Styles of Japanese gardens fall into a number of areas:
1) Sitting gardens- for viewing from inside a building or a veranda.
2)Pond gardens- ideally for viewing from a boat.
3)Tea gardens-these are viewed from a path which always leads to a kind of ceremonial tea hut.
4)Strolling gardens-distinctly unique and often breathtakingly beautiful, the idea is that you view them from a path which circumnavigates the entire garden design and structure.
Most Japanese gardens in the West , as well as withn Japan, are ‘dry’ or ‘rock’ gardens known as ‘Karesansui’ . Tea gardens-are often designed to follow the tradition and history of the Tea masters- they are often highly refined gardens refelecting rural simplicity.
Japanese gardens in a traditional style can be found all over the world in private residences, parks, Buddhist temples or Shinto shrines. Many historical landmarks such as castles can be host to Japanese gardens too.
Don’t forget if you have any photo’s taken on your travels or maybe you have a Japanese garden already, please get in touch it would be great to hear from you! To learn more about the whole subject take a look at my website at www.japzengardens.org.
More posts to come this week. Please bookmark my blog if you like what you see. Thanks.
